Ltmf- 


Duke  University  Libraries 


D037886964 


No.   56. 

A  VOICE  FROM  THE  AUSTRIA. 


Tnf  burning  of  the  steamship  "Austria,"  of  the  Hamburg 
line,  bound  to  New  York,  will  long  be  remembered  as  one 
of  the  most  terrific  calamities  that  has  ever  spread  "sorrow 
on  the  sea."  A  finer  day  than  the  13th  of  September,  1858, 
"never  broke  upon  human  view."  The  passengers  crowded 
the  deck  of  the  magnificent  vessel,  and  were  enjoying  the 
refreshing  breeze,  some  engaged  in  various  games,  exercises, 
and  pastimes,  and  others  in  cheerful  conversation,  when  in 
a  moment  the  cry  of  "Fire!"  rang  through  the  ship,  and 
clianged  the  scene  into  one  of  consternation  and  agony. 
"Women  and  men  were  praying,  crying,  screaming,  rushing 
frantically  about  the  deck,  wherever  they  were  not  dwven 
back  by  the  smoke  and  flames ;  while  others  stood  quietly 
looking  on  with  a  blank  vacancy  of  despair  upon  their  counte- 
nances, that  was  even  more  terrible  in  its  ghastliness  and 
silence  than  the  wildest  outcries."  Many  were  suftbcated 
and  burned  to  death,  and  hundreds,  to  escape  the  llamcs, 
hurled  themselves  into  the  sepulchral  waves.  Out  of  six 
hundred  persons  oq  board,  only  about  fourscore  were  saved 
by  vessels  that  came  to  their  rescue. 

On  the  quarter-deck,  after  unavailing  efforts  to  save  the 
Bhip  and  to  help  others  and  themselves,  there  was  gathered 
a  little  band  of  eight  persons,  males  and  females,  all  of  whom 
were  Christians.  Two  were  theological  students,  two  were 
clergy roew,  and  til e  rest  were  in  private  life.  TJg^  following 
extracts  from  the  correspondence  of  the  lone  surflTor  of  this 
company  of  believers,  one  of  the  two  students  of  theology, 
are  published  with  his  consent,  at  the  request  of  the  writer 
of  this  tract.  Tuey  are  designed  to  shoav  the  reality  and 
POWER  of  the  Christian  faith,  amid  scenes  which  put  it 
FOLLY  TO  THE  TEST.  Omitting  in  print  many  details  which  are 
fsuttiUar  to  the  pttblic,  tiie  writer  says : 


2 

"I  cannot  refuse  your  request.  I  am  no  longer  my  own, 
and  if  my  testimony  can  add  augbt  to  my  Saviour's  honor,  I 
will  not  refuse  to  let  you  use  it  at  your  discretion.  It  was 
he  who  supporterl  me  during  my  struggle  of  four  weary  hours 
in  the  water,  and  I  must  not  now  forget  him. 

"After  cnde-ivoring  to  save  the  sliip  and  some  lives,  I  left 
iny  friend  Mr.  Schiebe,  whose  bodily  strength  was  sgent  in 
his  effort  of  getting  from  the  cabin,  lo  comfort  the  poor  crea- 
tures who  so  much  needed  consolation.  He  did  his  work 
Aiithfully.  After  endeavoring  to  get  the  hatches  down,  the 
boats  lowered,  and  the  steamer  with  its  side  to  the  wind,  and 
failing  in  all,  I  cut  two  life-preservers  ]oose,  one  for  Ivlr. 
Schiebe,  the  other  for  myself.  As  I  approached  him  with  a 
life-pie-erver,  I  heard  a  f"bmale  ask  him,  'What  can  I  do?' 
lie  replied,  'Look  to  Jesus,  he  is  merciful  and  kind.  lie  will 
hear  you.'  But  she  replied,  'I. can't  pray.'  Then  he  respon- 
ded, 'I  will  pray  with  you;'  and  he  olFered  up  three   or  four 

pejtitions  for  her.     At  this  point  Miss came  to  me  in  great 

ag^ou}-  and  asked,  'Is  there  anydidp?'  I  answered,  'Put  your 
faith  in  Jesus.'  She  sat  down  overcome,  exclaiming,  'I  have 
no  strength,  no  hope.'  After  this  we  gathered  a  small  Chris- 
tian band  together  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  after  embracing 
each  other,  bid  a  last  farewell.  When  I  came  to  Miss  Becker, 
she,  weeping,  said,  'The  Saviour,  Oh  how  precious  heisV 

"Our  little  band,  after  our  farewell,  went  to  the  side  of  the 
vessel,  determined  to  endure  as  long  as  posvsible  the  approach- 
ing flames,  and  then  to  leave  the  steamer  together.  Mr. 
Schiebe  saVl  several  times  to  me,  'My  only  Jiope  is  ia  the 
Saviour;'  and  then  looking  at  the  raging  flames  and  at  the 
distant  bark^  he  said,  'We  may  be  saved,  but  I  think  not.  If 
it^is  the  Lord's,  will,  we  shall  be.  Uq  knows  what  is  beet.' 
We  g^jlJl^"!"  mutual  messages  to  our  friends,  so  that  if  either 
were  sa^lli,  they  might  be  assured  '  that  they  were  remem- 
bered by  us  in  our  dying  hour.  Ho  beg':;ed  me  *to  tell  his 
friends  that  he  died  Jiappy.'  'Oh,  my  poor  father  and  moth- 
er, and  my  dear  Magda  too.  Let  them  know  that  I  died 
happy.'  After  a  few  moments  we  lieard  a  wild  shriek  at  our 
feet,  and  on  looking  down,  saw  a  poor  fellow  with  his  head 
fast  in  a  porthole,  and  the  flames  coming  ovex  hie  ehoulder* 


it  n  . 

©noircling  it.,  'TV©  must  eoon  go/  I  said  to  Mr.  Schiebe. 
'Precious  bfrother/  he  replied,  'farewell ;  a  few  momeate,  and 
we  will  meet  in  heaven!'  We  then  both  gave  the  word,  'Let 
U8  go,'  and  I  jumped  intD  the  water.  It  was  the  last  I  saw 
of  my  dear  friend. 

"On  jumping,  I  kept  my  preserver  in  my  hand,  vyhirling 
it  over  my  head  to  ret<iin  my  perpendicular  in  striking  the 
water.  On  reaching  the  water  I  let  go  my  buoy,  so  as  not  to 
injure  myself  by  the  strain  it  would  produce  in  a  leap  twenty 
feet  down.  I  suppose  I  went  under  the  surface  of  the  ocean 
twelve  or  twenty  feet,  and  on  coming  to  the  surface  again, 
saw  my  preserver  thrown  up  by  a  wave  sixty  or  seventy  feet 
ofl  and  there  u-ere  two  or  three  parties,  ol  two  or  three  each, 
striving  to  gain  it." 

Having  secured  his  buoy,  he  returned  to  search  for  hia 
friends,  but  they  were  gone.  Distracted  by  the  shrieks  and 
groans  of  the  dying,  whom  he  could  not  help,  he  swam  away 
with  the  current.     He  then  adds  : 

"After  swimming  about  an  hour  with  the  sea,  I  found  that 
all  was  quiet  save  the  low  moaning  of  the  waves.  During 
this  time  I  found  the  promises  fast  clustering  around  me,  and 
felt  that  Jesus  was  my  elder  brother.  I  repeated  that  hymn 
of  Wesley's  beginning, 

'*  'Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul. 
Let  nie  to  thy  bosom  fly, 
While  the  billows  near  me  roll. 

While  the  tempest  fftill  is  high. 
Hide  me,  0  my  Saviour,  hide, 
Till  the  storm  of  life  is  past ; 
Safe  into  the    haven  guide; 
Oh  receive  my  soul  atla^t.' 
"For  a  moment  I  felt  alone,  but  it   was   only   momentary, 
for  I  soon  found  my  Saviour  with  me.     And^such  sweet  con- 
eolation  to  know  that  God  was   my  friend!     I    felt   that  he 
could  not  do  but  what  was  right.     I  nevef  before    could  look 
to  my  heavenly  Father  with  the  same  feelings  of  love  that    I 
could  to  the  Saviour.     There  was   always  some   awe   mixed 
with  it.     But  now  I  could  love  each  equally.     I  felt    as  if 


heaven  was  drawn  near  me,  and  glimpes  of  its  glory  were 

revealed. 

"liiit  soon  this  state  of  ecstasy  was  broken  in  upon  by  the 
stormy  petrels  which  were  flying  around,  and  they  would 
strike  me  in  my  face  with  their  w^ings,  treating  me  as  dead. 
I  wept  like  a  child,  it  seemed  so  cruel ;  and  to  leave  this  earth 
with  such  feelings  was  hard.  But  the ,  promise,  *My  flesh 
and  my  heart  faileth  ;  but  God  is  the  strength  of  my  heart, 
and  my  portion  for  ever,'  Psa.  73:  26,  was  one  of  many 
that  chased  away  my  pained  feelings  and  made  my  spirit 
again  rejoice. 

"I  remained  in  this  state  for  a  short  time,  when  I  thought 
that  the  greatest  safety  would  be  near  the  w^eck,  now  far  in 
the  distance.     I  swam  tCKwards  it  about  an  hour,  when  I  be-? 
came  quite  exhausted.     I  then  thought  that  heaven  was  not 
far  distant.     My  legs   stiffened  and   were  immovable.     My 
arms,  as  far  as  above  my  elbows,  were  helpless  and  cold. 
Chills  large  and  awful  were   passing  up  my  back,   and  my 
heart  began  to  beat  irregularly.     Oh,  I  was  cold,  very   cold. 
I  knew  death  could  not  be  far  off;  I  remembered  my    friends 
in  prayer;  committed  them  to  God^s  care,  knowing   that  he 
would  gladly  watch  over  them  and  bless  them.     That  was   a 
'prayer  of  faith.'     After  I  finished  praying,  I  said,   this  life 
is  not  worth  such  struggles,  I  cannot  longer  endure  it.     I  bid 
my  soul  farewell,  repeating  those  lines: 
*'  'Happy  soul,  thy  days  are  ended, 
All  thy  mourning  days  below ; 
Go,  by  angel  guards  attended, 
To  the  sight  of  Jesus  go.' 

"The  sun  was  still  about  two  hours  high,  and  gave  me  some 
warmth.  I  turned  my  face  towards  it,  and  I  never  before 
was  so  tha-nkful  for  any  temporal  blessing  as  for  the  little 
warmth  of  that  setting  sun. 

"Soon  I  found  the  struggle  getting  the  mastery  and  too 
weak  to  sustain  myself  in  my  buoy-ring,  I  thought  to  pass 
through  it  to  relievo  my  distress;  but  then  the  reflection  that 
it  was  my  duty  to  endure  as  long  as  possible,  or  else  I  would 
be  committing  suicide,  and  the  natural  shrinking  from  that 
last  struggle,  and  the  longing  to  let  mother  know  that  I  died 


happy,  kept  me  from  death,  At  this  moment  I  was  thrown 
up  by  a  wave  and  saw  a  distant  sail.  But  what  good  was 
this?  I  could  not  reach  it,  for  I  was  unable  to  move,  and 
I  remained  a  few  moments  in  suspense,  Suddenly  a  thrill 
passed  over  my  system,  a  revulsion  took  place,  and  the  blood 
rushed  through  my  body.  I  struck  out  and  swam  two  hours 
more  towards  the  bark. 

"But  Oh,  there  was  a  joy  and  peace  within,  such  as  I  have 
never  felt  before.  I  did  not  wish  to  be  saved,  for  I  had  friends 
in  heaven  as  well  as  on  earth.  And  besides  meeting  my 
Saviour,  I  knew  that  there  was  a  dear  parent  there,  and  I 
longed  to  see  him  in  glory ;  but  he  would  not  grieve  over  my 
delay,  and  I  knew  that  mother  would  mourn  my  absence. 

"Then  too,  I  said  to  myself,  as  I  was  advancing  towards 
the  distant  bark,  'There  is  some  prayer  now  being  answered 
in  my  behalf.'  Can  you  doubt  it,  cousin  ?  When  I  came 
within  hailing  distance  of  the  vessel,  I  attempted  to  make  a 
noise,  and  could  not  open  my  mouth.  Oh,  what  feelings  of 
regret  that  T  struggled  so  long,  to  be  deceived  at  last.  'I  do 
not  want  to  stay  on  this  earth  longer,'  I  said  ;  and  I  felt  like 
giving  up.  Still  I  swam  on  for  a  few  moments,  wh^n  I  ut- 
tered a  piercing  scream  that  pained  my  ears,  and  continued 
hailing  the  vessel  several  times,  each  time  when  I  was  at  the 
bottom  of  the  wave,  so  that  I  could  be  seen  as  I  rose  to  the 
top.  The  boat  was  soon  sent  out,  and  when  I  was  placed 
within  it  1  was  unable  to  move  hand  or  foot,  but  was  per- 
fectly conscious.  When  I  reached  the  bark,  a  rope  was  put 
about  me  and  I  was  drawn  upon  deck,  and  there  they  laid 
me  as  helpless  as  an  infant. 

"I  asked  myself,  lias  God  indeed  spared  me?  and  for  what? 
I  had  hoped  to  have  awaked  in  heaven,  but  here  I  was  still 
on  earth ;  I  almost  sighed  that  I  had  been  taken  from  those 
joys,  from  that  ecstasy  of  feeling  which  I  had  in  prospect  of 
eternity." 

The  value  of  such  an  experimental  testimony  as  the  foregoing  to 
the  reality  and  (Mvinity  of  the  religion  of  the  cross  of  Christ  is  incal- 
culable. It  is  among  the  most  powerful  of  all  the  Christian 
evidences.  Infidelity  can  never  answer,  nor  even  reason 
plausibly  against  his  consciousness  of  the  inward   force  and 


6 

glory  of  oar  holy  religion.  Wit  and  argtiment,  ribaldry  and 
malice,  are  of  no  avail  to  destroy  such  evidence.  Much  lefci 
can  unbelief  produce  results  Hke  these  spiritual  experiences 
in  the  hour  of  danger. 

Yet  many  who  are  not  infidels,  particularly  physicians  and 
those  who  are  familiar  with  scenes  of  sorrow  and  death,  are 
disposed  to  cast  heavy  doubts  upon  the  reality  of  those  mani- 
festations of  grace  and  glory  which  are  often  granted  .to  the 
sick  and  dyiiig.  Making  all  due  allowance  for  the  natural 
effects  of  weakness,  disease,  medicines,  and  mental  halluci- 
nations, we  earnestly  protest  against  the  spirit  which  sees 
little  or  nothing  more  than  these  things  in  the  workings  of 
the  grace  of  God  in  human  souls  that  &re  passing  under  the 
rod,  or  out  of  this  world. 

In  this  very  case  it  might  be  attributed  to  similar  causes, 
to  excitement,  the  known  pleasing  sensations  of  death  by 
drowning,  and  other  things.  To  all  such  suggestions  we  op- 
pose the  rescued  sufferer's  own  positive  declaration,    namely. 

"■There  vools  no  delusion  in  this  experience.  It  was  a  matter  qf 
reason  and  faith,  both  triumphajit  in  the  peculiar  and  special  pres- 
ence of  a  precious  Saviour.  I  have  before  felt  the  first  sensa- 
tions of  drowning,  and  know  that  they  were  peculiarly  pleas- 
ant, but  there  was  n©  drowning  here.  I -had  not  swallowed 
a  mouthful  of  water  during  my  four  hours  of  painful  sus- 
pense ;  but  it  was  the  coldness  of  the  water  that  was  killing 
me,  and  which  would  produce  no  such  deceitful  sensations  as 
those  caused  by  partial  drowning.  My  joys  were  those  fresh 
and  fragrant  from  heaven.  It  was  Christ  and  his  blesBed 
attachment  to  his  people  that  was  shown  in  my  case.  I 
never  knew  that  he  loved  rae  so  much.  1  never  thought  that 
I  could  'love  him  so  strongly.'  I  found  in  that  trying  hour, 
when  death  was  before  me  on  that  burning  ship,  "the  excel- 
lency of  the  knowledge  of  Christ.''  I  was  four  hours  in  the 
water,  but  those  were  four  of  the  most  precious  hours  of  my 
life.  Oh,  so  near  my  Saviour!  I  thank  God  for  the  privi- 
lege that  I  have  had  of  passing  through  scenes  which,  though 
terrible  in  themselves,  have  strengthened  my  faith  in  him, 
and  given  me  new  views  of  eternity  and  eternal  things." 

This  same  witness  declares,  that  in  that  dreadful   hour  it 


was  terrifying  to  observe  the  manifestations  of  ingratitude  to 
God,  and  to  hear  the  horrible  blasphemies  of  Pome  of  those 
who  were  saved  from  the  wreck.  "Some  who  prayed  when 
the  flames  were  rushing  on  them,  cursed  when  they  were 
delivered/'  He  has  told  us  too  of  the  utter  despair  of  multi- 
tudes in  that  wild  hour,  and  he  has  also  given  us  evidence 
of  the  peaceful  spirits  and  triumphant  deaths  of  some  of  his 
fellow-sufferers. 

He  thus  describes  another  scene  in  this  calamity:  "On 
board  the  Austria  there  were  but  few  Christians,  probably 
not  more  than  twenty-five.  There  were  some  bold,  wretched 
infidels.  I  saw  the  boldest  and  most  heaven-defying  of  them 
all  perish.  The  da  v  before  the  disaster,  tracts  were  distri- 
buted auiong  the  passengers,  and  were  kindly  received  by 
most  of  them  ;  but  this  man's  depravity  was  not  satisfied  to 
receive  one  and  destroy  it  before  our  faces,  lie  stealthily 
gathered  as  many  as  he  could  from  the  paspengers,  and 
feasted  on  his  shame  that  he  had  destroyed  them.  He  was 
as  bold  as  a  lion  when  there  was  no  danger  near,  but  when 
God  spoke  the  following  day,  he  trembled  at  the  alarm  and 
was  scarcely  able  to  move.  I  saw  liim  go  overboard.  He 
threw  out  his  arms  as  he  lay  upon  his  back  on  the  wave;  his 
eyes  seemed  as  if  tney  would  start  from  their  sockets  ;  the 
writhings  of  agony  were  seen  in  his  features,  and  as  h^  was 
sinking,  the  last  I  saw  of  him  was,  iie  clenched  his  hands,, 
wringing  them  in  agony,  and  he  was  just  leaving  earth  for 
— r- Oh,  for  what?  A  moment  more,  and  could  we  have 
Flood  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  «f  death,  we  might  have 
heard  the  deepairi:ng  cry,  'Oh,  that  1  had  been  wise.'  I  wept 
when  I  baw  this." 

Corjtrasts  like  tliese  are  not  to  be  accounted  for  by  a  doubt 
and  a  sneer,  nor  can  the  gathered  hosts  of  unbelief  reason  oi' 
ridicule  away  this  calm  and  clear  testimony  of  an  intelligent, 
educated,  and  thoroughly  competent  witness,  who  himself, 
but  about  four  years  ago,  was  an  utter  stranger  and  enemy, 
to  God  and  to  these  truths.  Now  he  can  say,  "J  believe, 
therefore  do  I  speak  what  I  have  seen  and  heard  and  known 
and  felt." 

Study  this  narrative.     It  showa  'Hhe  txcellmcy  ^ihe  hiowl- 


8 

cd^e  of  ChrisW  "Unto  you  therefore  whicb  believe,  he  is 
precious/' 

It  shows  ilvc  power  of  the  Christian  faith  to  sustain  a  soul  in  the 
most  sudden  and  severe  calamities,  producing  entire  submission  to 
Providence,  and  turning  sorrow  into  a  joy  for  ever. 

It  teaches  the  exceeding  greatness  and  preciousness  of  the  blessed 
promises  of  the  Bible,  and  the  faithfulness  of  Him  who  hath  promi- 
sed. 

It  illustrates  the  necessity,  the  comfort,  the  power,  the  grace  of 
prayer.  Hundreds  prayed  then,  and  wanted  others  to  pray 
for  them,  who  seldom  or  never  prayed  before.  A  few  of 
them  at  least  "entered  heaven  with  prayer,"  and  some  of  the 
survivors,  like  this  brother  in  Christ,  know  as  they  never 
knew  before  what  that  meaneth,  "Call  upon  me  in  the  day 
of  trouble;  I  will  deliver  thee,  and  thou  shalt  glorify  me." 

Do  YOU  PRAY  ? 

It  exemplifies  the  value  of  trial  as  a  test  of  the  strength  and 
beauty  of  our  Christian  faith  both  in  life  and  in  death. 

It  brings  you  face  to  face  with  eternal  things,  and  constitutes  a  new 
and  jyoiverful  appeal  for  you  to  give  all  diligence  to  ''make  your 
calling  and  election  sure." 

Your  ears  still  ring  with  these  voices  of  sorrow  from  the 
sea.  *  Sudden  death,  sudden  glory,"  said  a  dying  saint  of  a 
dead  generation.  But  would  it  be  such  to  you,  my  impeni- 
tent friend ! 

"Be  ye  therefore  ready ;  for  the  Son  of  man  cometh  at  an 
liour  when  ye  think  not."  "Watch;  for  ye  know  not^iwhat 
hour  your  Lord  doth  come."  9 

"Strive  to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate;  for  many,  I  say  unto 
you,  will  seek  to  enter  in,  and  shall  not  be  able." 

"Repent  and  be  converted,  that  your  sins  may  be  blotted 
out  when  the  times  of  refreshing  shall  come  from  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Lord."  "He  is  able  to  save  unto  the  uttermost 
all  that  come  unto  God  by  Him,  seeing  he  ever  liveth  to  make 
intercession  for  them." 

Sinner,  come  to  Jesus.  "Now  is  the  accepted  time;  now  19 
the  day  of  salvation."  We  know  nothing  about  io-mon'oiv. 
Now;  now,  NOW.     Perhaps  now  or  never  1 

PREPARE  TO  MEET  THY  GOD. 


Hollinger  Corp. 
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